Overview

The Mazda 5 continues to be an uncommonly versatile vehicle inside a relatively small body, offering three comfortable rows of seating and the convenience of sliding doors. Although it is smaller on the outside than competing full-size minivans, the 5 seats six people and offers enough legroom for adults to fit in the third row for short trips. The second-row captain’s chairs slide and recline and can be folded flat, and the third-row seats have a 50/50 split so they can be tipped forward individually and folded to create a flat load area. There are plenty of interior storage binnacles, including compartments under the second-row seats. Sliding rear doors give the 5 the easy rear-seat access of a minivan and help prevent dings from overly zealous door openers. A 157-hp four-cylinder is the only engine available, and although it isn’t overly powerful, it’s lively enough to get the job done. The five-speed automatic transmission works fine, and we applaud the fact that base models can be equipped with a lively six-speed manual. Even with the automatic, the Mazda 5’s small footprint and taut suspension provide a much better driving experience than do other minivans.

Safety

Standard features include front, side, and side curtain air bags, along with ABS, traction and stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

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